Flexible pixel hardware and method

ABSTRACT

A graphical display station of arbitrary shape such as channel letters or other shaped structures is populated with pixels which are components of flexible pixel strings which can be arranged to fit the arbitrary shape(s). The flexible pixel strings provide for straightforward and cost effective fabrication of channel letter or other shaped displays. The invention also includes pixel units which comprise lighting elements together with such control circuits as are needed to roperly drive the lighting elements to form a graphical image. Addressing of the particular pixels is provided to accommodate the arbitrary arrangement of pixels of the flexible pixel strings. Methods of fabricating a channel letter display are also disclosed.

CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority to U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13,360,187 (Attorney Docket No. 339.051US3) filedJan. 27, 2012, entitled “FLEXIBLE PIXEL HARDWARE AND METHOD”, which is acontinuation of and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/031,400 (Attorney Docket No. 339.051US2) filed Feb. 21, 2011,entitled “FLEXIBLE PIXEL HARDWARE AND METHOD,” which is a continuationof and claims priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/965,133(Attorney Docket No. 339.051US1) filed Oct. 14, 2004, assigned U.S. Pat.No. 7,893,948, entitled “FLEXIBLE PIXEL HARDWARE AND METHOD,” theentirety of which is explicitly incorporated by reference herein.

This application is also related to U.S. patent application Ser. No.10/965,127 (Attorney Docket No. 339.031US1) filed Oct. 14, 2004,entitled “FLEXIBLE PIXEL STRING SOFTWARE AND METHOD,” now abandoned;U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/805,513 (Attorney Docket No.339.039US1) filed May 23, 2007, entitled “TRANSLATION TABLE,” whichclaims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/808,200(Attorney Docket No. 339.039PRV) filed May 24, 2006, entitled“TRANSLATION TABLE”; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/895,423(Attorney Docket No. 339.041US1) filed Aug. 24, 2007, entitled “FLEXIBLEPIXEL ELEMENT AND SIGNAL DISTRIBUTION MEANS,” which claims priority toU.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/926,706 (Attorney Docket No.339.041PRV) filed Apr. 27, 2007, entitled “FLEXIBLE PIXEL ASSEMBLIES FORMOUNTING ON IRREGULAR SURFACES”; U.S. patent application Ser. No.11/895,424 (Attorney Docket No. 339.042US1) filed Aug. 24, 2007, issuedas U.S. Pat. No. 7,868,903, entitled “FLEXIBLE PIXEL ELEMENT FABRICATIONAND SEALING METHOD”; and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/987,584(Attorney Docket No. 339.042US2) filed Jan. 10, 2011, entitled “SEALEDPIXEL ASSEMBLIES, KITS AND METHODS,” which claims priority to U.S. Pat.No. 7,868,903, the entirety of each of the disclosures of which areexplicitly incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to image displays and signage, and moreparticularly, to displays of custom or arbitrary shape. Such shapeddisplays include channel letter displays, logo or design displays,curved or round displays, or other arbitrary shaped or unusual aspectratio displays.

2. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Displays have become increasingly more sophisticated, progressing frommonochrome incandescent and LED to color to moving or changing to videoquality displays, and from smaller to larger size, and with moreelaborate content and control and driving systems. Channel letter typedisplays have progressed from simple neon or fluorescent light displaysto video type displays. The construction of modern video-type channelletter or arbitrary shaped displays is typically accomplished usingstandard rectangular grid video components. Such use of rectangular gridvideo components is awkward and wasteful, and in some implementationslacks the full desired effect that channel letter shaped videocomponents could provide. However, the production of shaped videocomponents in arbitrary shapes is expensive and inefficient at present.Further, the rectangular grid video components and control system can beinadequate for creating the custom shaped displays that are becomingincreasingly desired. Thus, there is need for efficient and costeffective production of arbitrary shaped displays.

DEFINITIONS

By “addressing means” herein is meant hardware device for identifying aparticular pixel, lighting element, or display element so that a displaycontroller can send data to the particular pixel, lighting element, ordisplay element among a group of multiple pixels, lighting elements, ordisplay elements.

By “control circuit” herein is meant electronic circuit which receivesdata and changes the lighting output of one or more pixels or lightingelements.

By “display element” herein is meant a subsystem or portion of adisplay.

By “display” herein is meant a graphical image display device such as avideo screen, electronic ticker, scoreboard, channel letter display,array or series of lights, visual output device.

By “flexible connection” herein is meant mounting, mechanical, orelectrical components which attach to a pixel, lighting element, ordisplay element to provide power, signal communication, or physicalattachment.

By “lighting element” herein is meant components which generate ormodify light, such as an LED, light bulb, neon light, phosphorescentcomponent, cathode ray tube, liquid crystal display, backlight, laser,or optical fiber.

By “pixel string” herein is meant a set of pixels or other series oflighting elements.

By “pixel” herein is meant picture element, a set of one or morelighting elements which make up a single region of a graphical image.

By “power circuit” herein is meant an electric circuit which provideselectrical power to drive one or more lighting elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The general purpose of the present invention is to provide a display inany arbitrary shape. Such a display can be useful for signage,presentation of video information, and so forth, in channel letters orother arbitrary shapes as are desired. Such a display could be adaptedas a large graphical display, scoreboard, ticker, billboard,informational signage, or other configurations and applications. Theflexible pixel string of the present invention is also well suited forother indoor or outdoor architectural lighting applications. Forexample, lighting elements mounted in a room, in, behind or on a wall,ceiling, floor, or divider, or lighting elements on a building orexternal structure, such as a walkway, pole or fence, could beconfigured with flexible pixel strings for efficient and versatilecustom lighting effects. Flexible pixel strings can be used to locatelighting elements behind a glass wall, in ceiling tiles, in recessivefixtures, and so forth, providing individual access and control ofindividual lighting elements for specialized illumination effects ordisplay of video data or other graphical information.

The basic concept underlying the present invention is similar to havinga rope of decorative lights that would be mounted to a display of anyshape, such as with the lights protruding through holes to be visiblefrom the front of the display, and the flexible connections and wireshidden behind the display surface. By simply affixing the lights to anychosen locations on the display, any arbitrary shape can easily befabricated.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provideda video-capable display, including multiple pixels arranged in anarbitrary configuration, with lighting elements, control circuits, powercircuits, and flexible connections.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a flexible pixel string, including multiple control circuits,each driving at least one pixel, with flexible connections.

According to still another embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a display element, including a control circuit, at least onelighting element, addressing means and at least one flexible connection.

According to a further embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided an electronic circuit which provides multiple levels of controlfor a pixel or other display element.

According to a still further embodiment of the present invention, thereis provided a method of fabricating a flexible pixel string.

According to an additional embodiment of the present invention, there isprovided a method of fabricating a display of arbitrary shape.

According to another additional embodiment of the present invention,there is provided a method of addressing a particular pixel on aflexible pixel string.

One significant aspect and feature of the present invention is theefficient utilization of the minimum number of lighting elements andother costly electronic components.

Another significant aspect and feature of the present invention is theflexible pixel string which provides for production of displays of anyarbitrary shape.

Still another significant aspect and feature of the present invention isthe multiple display elements which provide for distributed control ofpixels and lighting elements.

Yet another significant aspect and feature of the present invention isthe multiple electronic circuits providing individual control of a pixelor other display element.

A further significant aspect and feature of the present invention is theflexible connections which provide for any arbitrary arrangement ofpixels or display elements.

A still further significant aspect and feature of the present inventionis the addressing means for identifying a particular pixel or displayelement for activating the particular pixel or display element in thedesired manner and timing even if the pixel or display element is partof a flexible pixel string with arbitrary shape and not part of aregular rectangular grid or array.

Having thus described embodiments of the present invention, it is theprincipal object of the present invention to provide a display in anyarbitrary shape. Such a display can be useful for signage, presentationof video information, and so forth, in channel letters or otherarbitrary shapes as are desired.

One object of the present invention is to provide an efficient and costeffective display.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a display withmoving video capabilities.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide displays thatare curved, angled, channel letter, logo shaped, or otherwise shaped.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a flexiblepixel string which can be used as a component in a display witharbitrary shape.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a simpleelectronic circuit which can be used to control a single pixel or otherdisplay element.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide foraddressing a particular pixel on a flexible pixel string.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other objects of the present invention and many of the attendantadvantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as thesame becomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which like reference numerals designate like partsthroughout the figures thereof and wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a prior art display;

FIG. 2 illustrates a prior art display;

FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged portion of the channel letter display ofFIG. 2;

FIG. 4 illustrates a channel letter display with flexible pixel strings,the present invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged portion of the channel letter display ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 illustrates a flexible pixel string;

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a pixel unit of FIG. 6.;

FIG. 8 illustrates prefabricated flexible pixel strings;

FIG. 9 illustrates a display element;

FIG. 10 illustrates prefabricated display elements;

FIG. 11 illustrates schematically the addressing of pixels; and,

FIG. 12 illustrates schematically the operation of a graphical displaystation with channel letter or shaped structure display(s) havingflexible pixel strings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate prior art displays. Display 10 a is a priorart rectangular grid display. Graphical image 12 fills display 10 a.Letter shapes 14 a-14 d are displayed in an attempt to have the visualeffect of a channel letter display. A display of this type lacks thevisual effect of a true channel letter display. This prior art approachstarts with display 10 a and covers or removes those portions that areoutside of letter shapes 14 a-14 d. In FIG. 2, still another prior artapproach is to fabricate channel letters 16 a-16 d using rectangulargrid components. These alternate prior art approaches might producechannel letter displays with the general appearance of FIG. 2, whichillustrates a display 10 b having channel letters 16 a-16 d anddisplaying graphical image 12. These alternate prior art approachesrequire significant custom fabrication and are not always even feasible,depending on the particular display type.

FIG. 3 illustrates an enlarged portion of the prior art display 10 b ofFIG. 2. A rectangular grid of pixels 18 is shown, with pixels 18 ppresent in the display 10 b (shown with solid lines), and pixels 18 awhich are absent or have been removed or covered (shown with dashedlines). Line 20 indicates the desired edge of a channel letter 16 ofdisplay 10 b.

FIG. 4 illustrates a channel letter display 22 with flexible pixelstrings, the present invention, including shaped structure(s) 24.Although appearing similar to the prior art display of FIG. 2, thedisplay of FIG. 4 is distinct in the manner in which it is produced anddue to the presence of flexible pixel strings instead of prior artrectangular gridded pixels. Illustrated shaped structure(s) 24 can bechannel letters 24 a-24 d or can be logo shapes, figure shapes, circularor curved shapes or sections, linear shapes, outlines, patterns, orcombinations thereof. Channel letters 24 a-24 d spelling a company name,product name, place name, or other word or phrase may be desired. Thechannel letter display 22 can be a single shaped structure or can bemultiple shaped structures 24, as shown. In this example, the shapedstructures 24 are channel letters 24 a-24 d and the word “flag” is usedfor the channel letters 24 a-24 d and a graphical image 26 of a flagfills channel letters 24 a-24 d. In use, graphical image 26 may be anyvariety of images, designs, and so forth. For example, a moving (oranimated) video image of a flag waving in the breeze could be “played”on channel letter display 22.

FIG. 5 illustrates an enlarged portion of the channel letter display 22of FIG. 4. Portions of three flexible pixel strings 28 a, 28 b and 28 nare shown. Each channel letter 24 a-24 d comprises at least one pixel30, but typically comprises many pixels. The individual pixels in eachchannel letter 24 a-24 d are in flexible pixel strings 28 a-28 n whichare curvilinear strings with flexible connections 32 and arranged, byindividual strings or group of strings, to form the shape of the channelletter or shaped structure(s) 24. Any convenient number of pixels 30 canbe used in the flexible pixel strings 28 a-28 n, and the number ofpixels can vary from string to string.

Flexible pixel string 28 a comprises pixels 34 a-34 n where n is thenumber of pixels in the flexible pixel string 28 a. Similarly, flexiblepixel string 28 b comprises a number of pixels 36 a-36 n, where thenumber of pixels may be the same as or different from the number ofpixels in flexible pixel string 28 a. Still similarly, flexible pixelstring 28 n comprises a number of pixels 38 a-38 n, where the number ofpixels may be the same as or different from the number of pixels inflexible pixel strings 28 a and 28 b. The flexible pixel strings 28 a-28n may be formed into lines, curves, zig zags, or other pattern or shapeas needed to form the channel letter or shaped structure 24 as desired,and the flexible pixel strings 28 a-28 n may terminate at any pointwithin or at the periphery of the channel letter or shaped structure.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 illustrate a flexible pixel string 40, similar toflexible pixel strings 28 a, 28 b and 28 n of FIG. 5. Flexible pixelstring 40 comprises at least one pixel 42 and at least one flexibleconnection 44 a-44 n. Preferably, the flexible pixel string 40 hasmultiple pixels 42 as shown. Each pixel 42 has lighting element(s) 46(FIG. 7) as required for the type of display; for example, red, green,and blue light emitting diodes (LEDs) (i.e., 56R, 56G, 56B,respectively) with drive circuits 48 and control circuits 50 which couldbe combined into pixel unit 52 and connected with flexible connections44 a-44 n. Other types of lighting elements with appropriate drivecircuits could be used, such as incandescent or other lights, lasers,monochrome lights, liquid crystal elements, and so forth.

In the preferred embodiment, for each pixel 42, a simple control circuit50 is included, physically attached to the pixel 42. Each flexible pixelstring 40 has one or more control circuit 50/lighting element(s) 46combinations connected in series by flexible connections 44 a-44 n.Flexible connections 44 a-44 n include electrical, data, or activationconnections which pass electrical power, graphical image data, or otheractivation mechanism to and from the pixel units 52. Flexibleconnections 44 a-44 n also include mounting or attachment connectionswhich provide for the pixel unit 52 to be affixed in the desiredarbitrary location. A single component flexible connections 44 a-44 nmay provide both the data connection and the mounting connection, ormultiple flexible connections 44 a-44 n may be used, distributing thedata connection, mounting connection, and other connection functionsamong the multiple flexible connections 44 a-44 n.

FIG. 7 illustrates schematically a pixel unit 52 of FIG. 6. This exampleindicates lighting elements 46 which comprise red LED 56R, green LED56G, and blue LED 56B. Each LED has a corresponding LED drive circuit48. Each drive circuit 48 has a corresponding control circuit 50 whichreceives data from and through a flexible connection, for example,flexible connection 44 a. If pixel unit 52 is not the last pixel unit inthe flexible pixel string 40, then control circuit 50 also passes datato flexible connection 44 b. In this example, flexible connection 44 aand flexible connection 44 b include data cables which pass image data,clock or timing signals, data latch signal, and may pass other data orelectrical power as well. Control circuit 50 includes logic elements asare needed to properly activate the corresponding LED 56R, 56G or 56B,such as comparitors, counters, clocks, timers, latches, and so forth, bycreating, for example, a pulse width modulation (PWM) function used tocontrol the lighting intensity, duration, and timing for thecorresponding LED. An integrated circuit 58 which comprises some or allof the elements of pixel unit 52 can be used advantageously to providefor easy and cost effective fabrication of shaped structure(s),including channel letters 24 a-24 d, in display 22, such as that of FIG.4.

FIG. 8 illustrates standard or prefabricated pixel strings 60 withparticular numbers and spacing of pixels 42 to facilitate constructionof one or more channel letters 24 a-24 n of the shaped structure display24. One would simply choose appropriate pixel strings to combine intothe particular channel letter or shaped structure being constructed.

FIG. 9 illustrates display element 62. Display element 62 has somesimilarity to the prefabricated pixel string 60, but utilizesarrangements which could be a conventional rectangular grid of pixels 42and pixel units 52 or arbitrary shaped pixel units 52 but with at leastone flexible connection 64. Thus, the display element 62 may bepositioned and oriented as needed to form a desired shaped structure 24,but does not have exclusively flexible connections between each pixelunit 52. The entire display element 62 is then used as a component, andmultiple display elements 62 are used to create a shaped structuredisplay 24 which could include a channel letter 24 a-24 d or which couldbe of some other shape.

FIG. 10 illustrates prefabricated display elements 66 with particularnumbers and orientation of pixels 42 and pixel units 52 to facilitateconstruction of a shaped structure display 24 which can include achannel letter 24 a-24 d. One would simply choose appropriate displayelements 66 to combine into the shaped structure 24 being constructed. Aparticularly advantageous approach is to utilize prefabricated displayelements 66 together with flexible pixel strings 40 or prefabricatedflexible pixel strings 60 to construct a shaped structure display 24quickly and cost effectively. An additional advantageous aspect of thepresent invention is that the display element can be easily scaled up orscaled down in size and number of pixels. For example, the pixel unit ordisplay element may comprise one full-color RGB or monochrome lightingelement, or it can be scaled up so that each element on the flexiblepixel string is an array of pixels. For instance, 2×2, 3×3, 4×4, 8×8,16×16, 32×32, or other sized array of pixels or lighting elements can beincorporated or substituted for individual pixels or display elements. Alarge outdoor display could then comprise a string of large pixelarrays. The present invention provides for the utilization of large orsmall or intermixed pixel arrays or other shaped display elements. Aparticular flexible pixel string could incorporate a single pixel, a 4×4pixel array, and a 32×32 pixel array, on the same pixel string. Thehardware protocol is optimized to allow such variation, andcorresponding software is optimized to enable such variation andsubstitution by allowing a library of pixel arrays and display elementsto be created and saved. One may then simply choose and select thedifferent pixel arrays and display elements desired, aided by softwaretools.

FIG. 11 illustrates schematically the addressing of pixels. Portions offlexible pixel strings 28 d and 28 e of channel letter display 22 areshown. Flexible pixel strings 28 d and 28 e are assigned a logical rowto identify each flexible pixel string 28 d and 28 e. Within eachflexible pixel string 28 d and 28 e, each pixel 30 is assigned a logicalcolumn to uniquely address each pixel 30. In this manner, each pixel 30is uniquely addressable so that display controller 68 (FIG. 12) can sendan image data set which will pass the appropriate image data to eachpixel 30 to create a desired image even though the pixels 30 are notarranged in a standard rectangular grid arrangement. Pixels 30 on FIG.11 are further denoted by the letter “P” in the form P (r, c) , where rand c indicate a unique address.

Graphical image data 72 can be mapped from a standard rectangular arrayonto the logical row and logical column arrayed flexible pixel string 28a-28 b by software. The software can accommodate scaling of data fromsingle pixels to larger pixel arrays, such as 2×2 or 32×32 or other sizepixel array, and may provide for creation and use of a library of pixelarrays and other display elements, and assist a user in selectingdisplay elements and performing the image data mapping for the chosendisplay elements. Data, typically including graphical image data 72,timing data, and addressing data, are sent from display controller 68 tothe shaped structure display 22, so that the shaped structure display 22can display graphical image 26 as desired. Data sent to the shapedstructure display 22 can comprise any variety of information, buttypically includes any combination of color, hue, intensity, duration,timing, clock signal, and addressing data.

MODE OF OPERATION

FIG. 12 illustrates schematically the operation of a graphical displaystation with shaped structure display(s) 22 having flexible pixelstrings 28 a-28 n. Display controller 68, which may receive data fromany data source (not shown), sends corresponding graphical image data 72to software 70 which maps the graphical image data 72 onto logical rowsand columns of pixels P(1,1) to P(n,m) where n refers to the number oflogical rows and m refers to the number of logical columns in eachlogical row. Note that the number of logical columns may vary among thevarious logical rows. Graphical image data 72 passes via flexibleconnections 74 a-74 n to pixels P(1,1) to P(n,m) of flexible pixelstrings 28 a-28 n. Pixels P(1,1) to P(n,m) comprise pixel units 52 whichcomprise control circuits 50 and lighting elements 46, as previouslydescribed in FIG. 7. Control circuits 50 receive graphical image data 72and cause lighting elements 46 to activate at the lighting color,intensity, and timing corresponding to the graphical image data 72 forthe particular pixel. Graphical image data 72 passes via the nextflexible connections 74 a-74 n to the next pixel units in the flexiblepixel strings 28 a-28 n and so forth so that every pixel unit in everyflexible pixel string receives graphical image data 72 and activatesaccordingly to create graphical image 26.

The foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered asillustration of the invention and not as a limitation. The scope of theinvention is intended to be defined by the following claims andequivalents. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that othervariations and modifications of the invention described herein can beincluded within the scope of the present invention. Various features ofthe invention are grouped together in the several embodiments forillustration; this grouping is not to be interpreted as reflecting anintention that the embodiments of the invention require more featuresthan are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the followingclaims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all featuresof a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are herebyincorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing onits own as a separate embodiment.

Various modifications can be made to the present invention withoutdeparting from the apparent scope thereof.

It is claimed:
 1. A graphical display assembly, comprising: a pluralityof flexible pixel strings, each flexible pixel string including: aplurality of pixel units each including an array of lighting elements,each lighting element assigned an individual address corresponding to aflexible pixel string and a pixel unit, on which the lighting element islocated, and a position of the lighting element on the pixel unit; andone or more flexible connections connecting the plurality of pixelunits, the one or more flexible connections including a data connectionconfigured to pass graphical image data to and from one or more of thepixel units; a software module configured to map the graphical imagedata onto the individually addressed lighting elements in order tocreate a desired graphical image; and a display controller operable topass the graphical image data through the flexible pixel strings via theone or more flexible connections such that the lighting elements in thepixel units receive individually addressed graphical image data.
 2. Thegraphical display assembly of claim 1, wherein the plurality of flexiblepixel strings is arranged so that the plurality of pixel units definesan arbitrary shaped display.
 3. The graphical display assembly of claim2, wherein the arbitrary shaped display is configured to presentmulticolor, moving images.
 4. The graphical display assembly of claim 2,wherein the arbitrary shaped display is non-rectangular.
 5. Thegraphical display assembly of claim 1, wherein a first one of theflexible pixel strings includes a number of pixel units that isdifferent than a number of pixel units included in a second one of theflexible pixel strings.
 6. The graphical display assembly of claim 1,wherein the lighting elements of each pixel unit comprise at least onered LED, at least one green LED, and at least one blue LED.
 7. Thegraphical display assembly of claim 1, wherein each pixel unit includesat least one control circuit.
 8. The graphical display assembly of claim1, wherein each pixel unit includes at least one control circuitelectrically connected to the lighting elements of the pixel unit. 9.The graphical display assembly of claim 8, wherein each lighting elementis electrically connected to a separate one of a plurality of drivecircuits, wherein the plurality of drive circuits are electricallyconnected to the at least one control circuit.
 10. The graphical displayassembly of claim 1, wherein the pixel units of each flexible pixelstring are serially connected.
 11. The graphical display assembly ofclaim 1, wherein at least one of the flexible pixel strings includespixel units that are connected in series and in parallel.
 12. Thegraphical display assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of theflexible pixel strings includes pixel units arranged in a grid pattern.13. A method of fabricating a graphical display, the method comprising:providing or receiving a plurality of pixel units each including anarray of lighting elements; connecting the plurality of pixel units withone or more flexible connections to form one or more flexible pixelstrings; providing or receiving a software module for mapping graphicalimage data onto individually addressed lighting elements, each addressassociated with a flexible pixel string and a pixel unit on which eachlighting element is located and a position of the lighting element onthe pixel unit, in order to create a desired graphical image; andproviding or receiving a display controller for passing the graphicalimage data through the one or more flexible pixel strings via the one ormore flexible connections such that the lighting elements in theflexible pixel strings receive individually addressed graphical imagedata.
 14. The method of claim 13, further comprising positioning thepixel units of at least one flexible pixel string into a non-grid-likepattern to define an arbitrary shaped display.
 15. The method of claim13, wherein connecting the plurality of pixel units comprises seriallyconnecting the pixel units in each of the one or more flexible pixelstrings.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein connecting the plurality ofpixel units includes establishing a data connection configured to passthe graphical image data to and from one or more of the pixel units. 17.The method of claim 13, wherein providing or receiving the plurality ofpixel units includes providing or receiving a plurality of pixel units,each pixel unit including at least one control circuit and a pluralityof drive circuits.
 18. A method of operating a display, the methodcomprising: individually addressing a location of each lighting elementof a plurality of lighting elements included in each of a plurality ofpixel units of one or more flexible pixel strings, including associatingeach address with a flexible pixel string and a pixel unit, on whicheach lighting element is located, and a position of the lighting elementon the pixel unit; mapping graphical image data onto the individuallyaddressed lighting elements; and transmitting the graphical image datathrough the one or more flexible pixel strings to each of theindividually addressed lighting elements such that the lighting elementsin the flexible pixel strings receive individually addressed graphicalimage data to create a desired graphical image.
 19. The method of claim18, wherein transmitting the graphical image data through the one ormore flexible pixel strings includes transmitting the graphical imagedata through one or more flexible connections connecting the pixel unitsof each flexible pixel string.
 20. The method of claim 19, whereintransmitting the graphical image data comprises transmitting thegraphical image data, via the one or more flexible connections, to atleast one control circuit of each pixel unit and transmitting thegraphical image data to a drive circuit coupled to the at least onecontrol circuit.